Woman Looking For Fleas c. 1710 - 1720

Giuseppe Maria Crespi painted “Woman Looking For Fleas” in the 18th century. Crespi was known as “the Spanish one” for his distinctive baroque painting style. Here, Crespi presents a scene of domestic life; a woman is seated, examining her clothes for fleas. The backdrop reveals a sparse room, emphasizing the woman’s humble existence, while two figures peer from an opening above. The viewer is invited into an intimate, yet unglamorous moment. Consider how the image engages with class and gender. Is Crespi highlighting the everyday struggles of working-class women or is he merely producing a voyeuristic spectacle for a privileged audience? The figures lurking above may suggest the latter. Crespi both documents and perhaps exploits the lived realities of women in his time, leaving us to consider the complex power dynamics embedded within the act of looking.